Does the name “Ioniq” ring any bell? Is so, you probably remember it from the 2012 Geneva Auto Show, where Hyundai launched the i-oniq concept. On June 5th of this year, according to AutoGuide, the automaker registered the “Ioniq” moniker with the Korean Intellectual Property Office. Then in July, Hyundai applied to trademark Ioniq with agencies in Europe, Malta, Great Britain, Canada, and the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Is this a threat to the Toyota Prius?
The Hyundai i-oniq concept was a 3-door hatchback with gullwing-type doors, LED headlights, a futuristic cabin, and a 60-horsepower, 1.0L triple-cylinder gasoline engine working alongside a 108-horsepower electric motor and lithium-ion battery. It offered a range of 120 kilometres in full EV mode and nearly 700 kilometres in hybrid mode.
However, AutoGuide claims a future Hyundai Ioniq may use a larger, 1.6L 4-cylinder engine instead. Stay tuned…
